Media Release
Shell supports new water recycling plant
30/12/2008
Shell Australia is pleased an agreement to construct a major water recycling plant at its Geelong Refinery has been approved by Shell Australia and Barwon Water.
The Barwon Water owned and operated Northern Water Plant will recycle sewage and trade waste from homes and industry in northern Geelong, including Shell Geelong Refinery.
Most of the Class A recycled water produced will be used by the refinery, but the resource will also be available for community facilities, including sporting fields.
The plant will save 2,000 million litres of drinking water a year used by the refinery - this is equivalent to 5% of Geelong's total water consumption, or water used in 10,000 homes.
“As a major water consumer in the region, Shell takes its approach to water use and recycling very seriously” said Shell Geelong Refinery General Manager Huck Poh.
“Our investment in this project represents just part of our journey to reducing our water use.
“We already recover and reuse more than a third of the water used in our processes - the Northern Water Plant is a further step towards more responsible water use.
“When the Northern Water Plant is turned on in 2012, 95% of the water we use will be recycled and that is a great outcome for Shell and the Geelong community” Dr Poh said.
Shell Australia will invest about $45 million in the project, with Barwon Water, the Federal Government and the State Government also contributing around $45 million between them.
Further information about the Northern Water Plant can be found at: www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au - opens in new window
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For further information, please contact:
Peta Leveritt - p.leveritt@shell.com or (03) 5273 8647 or 0410 425 805